CANNONEERS AND RIFLEMEN'S SABER OF THE ROYAL CORPS OF THE NAVY, model 1772, Old Monarchy (1772-1774). 28817

CANNONEER AND INFANTRY SABER OF THE ROYAL MARINE CORPS, model 1772, Old Monarchy (1772-1774). 28817

Brass hilt with a pommel cast in a cap and with 19 twisted strands, guard piece fitted with a branch, quillon, and half-shell. Flat blade, curved 56.3 cm long, with a 4 cm heel and 1.8 cm arrow. Hilt and blade bear the mark of the manufacturing control, an R under a small crown, from around 1776, a simplified model from 1775, allowing the determination of the use of this weapon in fusilier companies.

France.
Old Monarchy.
Good condition, worn blade, without scabbard.

NOTE:
In his work "Sabers and Swords - Infantry Troops from Louis XIV to the Present Day," Volume 3, Michel Pétard mentions
- in card 126, pages 70-71, "This formation created on February 18, 1772, had eight divisions named after the port of assignment: Brest - Toulon - Rochefort - Marseille - Bayonne- St Malo - Bordeaux and Le Havre. Each division included fusiliers, cannoneers, and an elite of bombardiers. Fusiliers and cannoneers were issued a special saber made in Klingenthal, similar to the infantry one but distinguished by some details: brass hilt with a pommel cast in a cap and with 19 twisted strands, guard piece fitted with a branch, quillon, and half-shell in palmette. Flat blade, curved and with a back edge, 56.8 cm long, with a 4 cm heel and 1.8 to 2 cm arrow. Hilt and blade bear the mark of the manufacturing control. Blackened leather scabbard with brass fittings: 4 cm chape fitted with a buffalo drag, and 8.1 cm tip. These sabers continued their service when in 1774, the fusiliers were separated from the artillery brigades and were joined by grenadiers; a specimen from this period has reached us with its blade engraved in clumsy cursive on one side "Grenadier of the rgt de Brest" and on the other "Royal Marine Corps."